APEC after 10 Years: Performance and Prospects

RELEASE 99-4, New York: Oceana Publications, August 1999

15 Pages Posted: 27 Jan 2010 Last revised: 3 Apr 2011

See all articles by John M. Curtis

John M. Curtis

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)

Dan Ciuriak

Ciuriak Consulting Inc.; Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI); C.D. Howe Institute; Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; BKP Development Research & Consulting GmbH

Date Written: July 1, 1999

Abstract

This paper considers the reasons why APEC's potential remains, after its first decade in existence, as yet largely unfulfilled. APEC’s progress is assessed in terms of three periods: 1989 through 1992, when it was primarily in an exploratory mode, probing for direction and ways and means for cooperation; 1993 through 1996, when the big decisions as to structure, goals, methodologies and approaches and so forth were taken; and 1997 to the present, when the issue became one of implementation. APEC’s major achievements were in the early phase and were primarily of a “political” nature, helping to firmly establish the idea of an Asia Pacific “community”. APEC’s "mission statements" of achieving free and open trade and investment in the Asia Pacific by 2010/2020 and sustainable and equitable development in a region seriously challenged on both accounts, were very ambitious, reflecting excitement about Asian growth. The Asian Crisis of 1997-1998, which interrupted Asian growth momentum and cast doubt on the Asian Miracle, deflated the "expectations bubble" surrounding APEC. This experience also suggested that APEC may be better suited and better positioned institutionally to help address the problems of growth than to deal with crises. APEC has further contributed to the deflation of expectations by not meeting its trade liberalization objectives and by not finding a genuinely effective way forward on economic and technical cooperation. There is, however, a continuing fundamental utility in having a high-level networking opportunity for the Asia Pacific region. There is a danger that expectations about APEC have fallen too far and that this potentially very useful instrument of international cooperation might well wither on the vine as capitals look elsewhere to deal with pressing issues. APEC might want to take advantage of the confluence of pressures for change to re-invent itself. The critical body for reform or re-invention within APEC is its senior officials forum (SOM) which needs to off-load the heavy management agenda which it has assumed in order to focus on issues, to provide real leadership and to build support in capitals for APEC's work.

Keywords: APEC, Asia Pacific, regionalism, trade liberalization, economic cooperation

JEL Classification: F55, F13, F15

Suggested Citation

Curtis, John M. and Ciuriak, Dan, APEC after 10 Years: Performance and Prospects (July 1, 1999). RELEASE 99-4, New York: Oceana Publications, August 1999, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1539232 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1539232

John M. Curtis

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) ( email )

125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa K1A 0G2, Ontario
Canada
613-944-0376 (Phone)
613-944-0375 (Fax)

Dan Ciuriak (Contact Author)

Ciuriak Consulting Inc. ( email )

83 Stewart St.
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6H9
Canada

Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) ( email )

57 Erb Street West
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6C2
Canada

C.D. Howe Institute ( email )

67 Yonge St., Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario M5E 1J8
Canada

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada ( email )

Canada

HOME PAGE: http://ciuriakconsulting.com/

BKP Development Research & Consulting GmbH ( email )

Romanstrasse 74
München, 80639
Germany

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